Sam Clovis, Donald Trump's pick to be chief scientist for the Department of Agriculture, has argued that homosexuality is a choice and that the sanctioning of same-sex marriage could lead to the legalization of pedophilia.cnn.com(See also Assaults on Civil Liberties, Assaults on Facts)

2017.08.21

Trump nominee Sam Clovis has argued that LGBT protections could lead to legalization of pedophiliacnn.com

Trump is preparing to give the Defense Department formal authority to expel transgender people from the military in an upcoming order, barring the Pentagon from recruiting transgender troops and cutting off payment for sexual reassignment surgery and other medical treatments for those already serving.nytimes.com(See also James Mattis, Department of Defense)

2017.09.11

A bipartisan pair of senators introduced an amendment Monday to try to reverse Donald Trump's ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.cnn.com(See also James Mattis, Department of Defense)

Sessions' directive says, "Title VII’s prohibition on sex discrimination encompasses discrimination between men and women but does not encompass discrimination based on gender identity per se, including transgender status.”

2017.10.13

Donald Trump on Friday became the first sitting US president to address the Values Voter Summit, an annual gathering of evangelical conservatives organized by a prominent anti-LGBT group, the Family Research Council, where guests were warned of the "hazards of homosexuality."buzzfeed.com(See also Unpresidential Behavior)

2017.10.16

During a conversation with Mike Pence and a legal scholar about abortion and homosexuality, Trump motioned toward Pence and joked, “Don’t ask that guy—he wants to hang them all!”newyorker.com(See also Unpresidential Behavior, Mike Pence)

The collapse of three of Donald Trump’s judicial nominations in the span of a week has embarrassed the White House, revealed weaknesses in its vetting process and threatened to cause Senate Republicans to apply more scrutiny to the president’s picks.washingtonpost.com(See also Legal Issues, Supreme Court, Corruption)

2017.12.29

Donald Trump fired the remaining members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, informing them without explanation with a letter delivered by FedEx, six months after six members resigned from PACHA writing in an open letter, published in Newsweek, saying the Trump White House was pushing for legislation that would harm people living with HIV.newsweek.com(See also Assaults on Government, Health Care)

The Trump administration announced on Thursday that it was allowing doctors, nurses and other health care workers to refuse to provide services for people that they object to based on religious beliefs, including abortion, providing contraception, and transgender health concerns.nytimes.com(See also Women, Homophobia)

The Education Department has confirmed that it won't investigate or take action on any complaints filed by transgender students who are banned from restrooms that match their gender identity, charting new ground in the Trump administration's year-long broadside against LGBT rights.buzzfeed.com(See also Department of Education, Betsy DeVos)

2018.02.26

A federal appeals court in Manhattan ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act “prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation” — a major win for LGBT rights advocates and a loss for Donald Trump, whose administration argued that LGBT employees are not protected under that law.mic.com(See also Legal Activity)

"During his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump did something unusual: He acknowledged LGBT Americans. Referring to the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, Trump said, “This time, the terrorist targeted the LGBTQ community … and we’re going to stop it.” He then promised to 'protect LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology.'

Coming from a Republican politician, even an acknowledgment of the LGBT community is pretty novel. But Trump’s promise was to protect LGBT Americans from hateful ideology abroad — he didn’t mention the hatred many regularly experience at home, sometimes due to policies proposed by people with whom he surrounds himself. Because of all his cabinet and cabinet-level picks so far, not one has a history of standing up for LGBT rights."

2016.12.15 "Trump's Cabinet: A Who's Who of Homophobia" (Boston Globe) “So far, Trump’s transition team, led by Vice President-elect Mike Pence—the Indiana governor with a history of antigay positions and actions, including signing the draconian Religious Restoration Freedom Act in 2015—appears to have given payback to antigay Trump supporters…”

"FADA would prohibit the federal government from taking "discriminatory action" against any business or person that discriminates against LGBTQ people. The act distinctly aims to protect the right of all entities to refuse service to LGBTQ people based on two sets of beliefs: "(1) marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, or (2) sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage."

Ironically, the language of the bill positions the right to discriminate against one class of Americans as a "first amendment" right, and bans the government from taking any form of action to curb such discrimination—including withholding federal funds from institutions that discriminate. FADA allows individuals and businesses to sue the federal government for interfering in their right to discriminate against LGBTQ people and would mandate the Attorney General defend the businesses."